three-on-the-tree

noun

On an automobile (especially those produced from 1939 through the mid-1970s), a three-speed manual transmission whose gearshift lever is a column shifter (mounted on the steering column) (R-N-1-2-3).

“His old car was a three-on-the-tree. Now he drives a four-on-the-floor.”

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Meanings

nounthree-on-the-tree (plural three-on-the-trees)

plural three-on-the-trees · alternative 3-on-the-tree

  1. USidiomaticautomotiveOn an automobile (especially those produced from 1939 through the mid-1970s), a three-speed manual transmission whose gearshift lever is a column shifter (mounted on the steering column) (R-N-1-2-3).

    His old car was a three-on-the-tree. Now he drives a four-on-the-floor.

    1 more example

    In driver's education, they used to teach students to drive in cars with a three-on-the-tree, but now the cars all have automatic transmissions.

    1. USidiomaticmetonymicallyautomotiveA vehicle with such a transmission.
Cite this entry
APA

three-on-the-tree. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/three-on-the-tree

MLA

“three-on-the-tree.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/three-on-the-tree. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “three-on-the-tree,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/three-on-the-tree.

Source: three-on-the-tree on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.